Multiplying plate-holder for photographic cameras



No. 6l5,064. Patented Nov. 29, I898.

, s. DWIGHT. IIULTIPLYING PLATE HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPH"; CAMERAS.

(Application filed my 9, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

TNE NORRIS PETERS co, FHCITO-LITNU., WASHINGTON. D. c.

N0. 6l5,064. Patented Nov. 29, I898. S. DWEGHT.

MULTIPLYING PLATE HOLDER FOR PHOTDGRAPHIG CAMERAS.

(Application filed. May 9, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPERRY DI/VIGHT, OF MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MULTIPLYING PLATE-HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 615,064, dated November 29, 1898.

4 Application filedMay 9, 1898. Serial No. 680,191. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SPERRY DWIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mitchell, in the county of Davison and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Plate-Holder for Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates to improvements in plate-holders for cameras; and the primary object that I have in view is to provide an improved construction by which a series of exposures may be made on a photographic plate without the necessity for taking the plate or the holder out of the camera.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plate-holder embodying a shutter mechanism in connection with a plate-carrier by which different portions of the same plate may be successively exposed in different horizontal and vertical planes, such plate-carrier being adjustable in the plate-holder by devices which accurately determine the horizontal and vertical slidable adjustment of the carrier and the plate therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap construction of plateholder in which the plate may be easily and readily placed in position and securely held within the plate-carrier, and said holder is constructed with a view to focusing the picture on a ground glass without exposing the plate or removing the holder from the camera.

With these ends in View myinvention consists in the combination of a plate-holder frame, a plate-carrier fitted for slidable adj ustment in said holder-frame,and removable slides adapted to support the plate-carrier in different positions with respect to the lensopening of the plate-holder.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plateholder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a' horizontal longitudinal sectional View on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the plate-carrier removed from the holder. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the slides which regulate the position of the plate-carrier to the lens-opening. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the latch by which the horizontal adjustment of the plate-carrier is regulated to expose contiguous portions of the plate through the lens-opening.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The plate-holder of my invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 1, and it consists of a rim or frame 2, a front 3, a back 4, and the partition 5, all of which are joined together in a substantial manner to produce a simple and durable structure. The partition 5 is secured within the frame and between the front and back of the holder, so as to provide therein a chamber (3, adapted to contain the adjustable plate-holder, and to provide for the ready insertion, adjustment, and withdrawal of the plate-carrier one end of the frame or rim 2 is constructed with. a slot 7. The back 4 of the plate-holder is formed on its inner face, which is opposed to the partition 5, with flanges or ribs 7 which constitute a guideway for the plate-carrier, and in the front 3 and partition 5 of the holder is provided a lens-opening 8, which is adapted to coincide. with the lens of the camera and which opens into the chamber 6 of the holder. The plate carrier, presently described, is adapted to be fitted between. the partition 5 and the back 4 and also arranged within and between the guides 7 of the back. The surface of the partition 5 which is opposed to the back 4 of the holder is lined with a suitable soft and dark materialas, for instance, black velvet and this lining is indicated at 9 in the drawings as being cemented or otherwise attached to the partition 5, the lens-opening 8 extending through the lining 9 of said partition.

In my plate-holder I equip it with a shutter mechanism which forms an integral part of the holder and which is independent of the shutter of the camera. In the opposing faces of the front 3 and the partition 5 of the holder is formed a shutter-recess 10, and in this recess is slidably fitted a plate 11, which is provided with an opening 12, the area of which opening is equal to the cross-sectional area of the lens-openingS. This slidable plate, with the opening 12 therein, is adapted normally to close the lens-opening 8 and protect the sensitized plate from the action of the light; but said slidable plate is associated with a pneumatic device by which it may be adjusted to bring the opening 12 therein coincident with the lens-opening 8, thus exposing the sensitized plate through the lens to the field of the camera. This slidable perforated plate 11 is made to serve a twofold purpose in that it acts as a shutter to expose the sensitized plate and as a protection to said plate; but for the purpose of conveniently designating the plate 11 I will hereinafter refer to the same as the shutter. A pneumatic cylinder 12 is fitted in a recess formed in the opposing faces of the front 3 and partition 5, and in this cylinder is slidably fitted a piston 13, which has its rod mechanically connected with the shutter 11. To the end of the cylinder is attached a flexible tube 15, which leads outside of the plateholder a suitable distance, and said tube is connected to a compression-bulb 14.

To provide for placing the plate in the holder, door-opening 16 is cut in the back 4 of the holder, and this opening is adapted to be closed by means of the door 17, which is hinged at 18 to one side of the door-opening and is adapted to be confined in place by means of asuitable fastener, such as a pivoted button 19, although any other form of catch may be substituted.

The plate-carrier is indicated by the numeral 20, and it is constructed in the form of a plate with a slot or opening 21 therein. This plate-carrier is of a length equal to the chamber 6 in the holder; but the width of the carrier is less than the depth of the chamber, whereby the carrier may be adjusted in horizontal and vertical planes in relation to the lens-opening to expose dilferent portions of the sensitized plate to the rays of light admitted intermittently by the action of the shutter through the camera-lens and the lensopening 8 of the holder to the chamber 6, in which the plate-carrier and plate are housed or contained. The opening or slot 21 in the plate-carrier is formed at the inner part thereof, and at its oppotite end the plate-carrier is formed with an enlarged finger-piece 22, which serves as a convenient means for the adjustment or manipulation of the plate-carrier, also as a stop to limit the inward movement of the plate-carrier in the holder when fitting the carrier thereto. The part of the plate-carrier between the slot or opening 21 therein and the finger-piece 22 is solid or imperforate, as clearly shown by Fig. 4, and in one face of this impertorate carrier is provided a series of kerfs or grooves 23, which are parallel to each other and extend across the carrier. These kerfs or grooves are spaced apart at intervals corresponding to the width of the lens-opening 8, and with the grooved carrier 20 is combined a latch which is adapted to engage successively with the grooves as the plate carrier is adjusted horizontally, thereby determining the portions of the plate which are to be brought in line successively with the lens-opening for exposure to the light admitted by the lens and the opening 8. The plate-carrier is provided with openings 24 on opposite sides of the plate-receiving opening or slot 21 thereof, and these openings 24 serve as sockets for the ends of a plate-holding spring 25, which is adapted to be fitted in the slot or opening 21 after the plate has been adjusted in position therein. This spring serves to hold the sensitized plate in the adjustable carrier of the holder, and it presses said plate against the soft black lining 9 of the partition 5. The spring is preferably constructed of a single piece of wire, which is bent or looped, as at 215, (see Fig. 4,) and the ends of this spring are adapted to fit in the socket 24, so that the spring is detachably connected with the carrier 20, and it lies in a position in rear of the plate. The plate-carrier is placed in the holder to have its opening or slot 21 aline with the dooropening 16 in the back of the holder, and when it is desired to place a plate in the carrier while it is in the dark room the door 17 is opened, the spring 25 is removed, the plate is placed is position with its sensitized surface next to the lining 9, the spring is replaced, and the door is closed and fastened, thus housing the sensitized plate entirely within the holder against the action of light. The latch for determining the horizontal adjustment of the plate-carrier and for lockin g said carrier immovably in place while the plate is undergoing exposure is indicated by the numeral 27, and this latch is fitted loosely in a slot 28, which is cut in the back 4 of the holder, near the slotted end 7 thereof. The latch is pivoted in the slot 28 by means of a pin 29, suitably supported in the holder, and the exposed part of this latch is provided with a thumb-piece 30, which is accessible at all times to the operator for the purpose of withdrawing the latch from engagement with the plate-carrier, in either of the grooves or kerfs of which the latch is adapted to fit.

As the plate-carrier is of less width than the space between the guides 7 and the width of the chamber if, it is desirable to provide means by which the plate-carrier may be sustained at different elevations with respect to the lens-opening S, and which means shall permit the plate-carrier to be adjusted horizontally in the plate-holder in order to subject the plate to a series of exposures in the same horizontal plane, and these adjusting devices should be so manipulated that the plate may be adjusted vertically to expose different portions thereof to the light admitted by the lens-opening. l attain this ICO IIO

end by the employment of a series of slides, (indicated at 31 and 32,) which are removabl y placed in the plate-holder and adapted to be used interchangeably with the plate-carrier. The width of each slide 31 or 32 is equal to the depth of the lens-opening 8, and as the grooved carrier and latch determine the horizontal adjustment of the carrier the slide or slides 31 32 determine the vertical adjustment of the carrier and plate in relation to the lens-opening. One of the slides may be fitted between the guide '7 and the lower edge of the plate-carrier or both slides may be interposed between the lower guide 7 and said plate-carrier, according to the portion of the plate which it is desired to expose to the light. The length of the movable and interchangeable slides is equal to that of the platecarrier, and at its outer end each slide is provided with an enlarged finger-piece 32 for its convenient manipulation and to limit its introduction into the holder.

My plate-holder is constructed for the operator to focus the picture without admitting light to the sensitized plate contained within the holder or disturbing the position of the camera. At the end of the plate-holder, opposite to the slots 7 therein, is formed a View ing-opening 34, which extends through the front, partition, and back of the holder, and in this viewing-opening is fitted a ground glass 35.

The operation is as follows: The sensitized plate is placed in the slot or opening 21 of the plate-carrier while the holder is in a dark room, and the door 17 is then closed and fastened to exclude light from the plate. The holder may now be placed in the camera in the ordinary way. The latch 27 is engaged with the first of the series of kerfs 23 in the carrier, and said carrier is lowered to present a portion of the plate at the upper right-hand corner thereof opposite to the opening 8, the slides 31 and 32 being fitted against the upper edge of the carrier and between the latter and the upper guides 7 of the holder. The holder is now in condition for service, and an exposure is made by pressing the bulb to open the shutter and admit the light through the opening 8 to the sensitized plate. The plate-carrier is now drawn outwardly until the second groove therein comes opposite to the latch 27 which drops into engagement with said second groove and locks the carrier in a position where another portion of the plate in the same horizontal plane as the first exposure is brought opposite to the opening 8, and the bulb may again be pressed to actuate the shutter and expose that portion of the plate to light opposite to the opening 8. The operation is repeated until the plate-carrier has been drawn out the desired number of times to secure a corresponding number of latent pictures on the plate, after which the platecarrier is adjusted vertically in the plateholder by Withdrawing one of the slides and inserting the same beneath the plate-carrier.

The carrier and plate thus assume positions where another horizonal series of latent impressions may be taken 011 the plate, and finally the remaining slide is inserted beneath the plate-carrier to sustain the carrier in a position where the final series of exposures may be made. It will be understood that the plate-carrier is adjusted with a step-by-step movement in a horizontal plane in the holder and that said plate-carrier is adjusted vertically a distance equivalent tothe depth of the picture or the opening 8 in the intervals between the end of one series of horizontal exposures and the beginning of another series of exposures on the plate. The grooves or kerfs in the plate-carrier enable the latch to engage with said carrier without respect to the vertical position assumed thereby in the holder. The slide or slides when fitted beneath the plate-carrier serve as a track or guide therefor in its horizontal adjustment, and thus the plate-carrier is held in proper relation to the opening 8 of the holder while the plate is undergoing exposure.

My improved plate-holder is comparatively simple in construction, durable in service, easy of operation, and cheap of manufacture. A plate may be readily placed therein or removed therefrom, and the holder may be used to focus the picture without exposing the plate.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as clearly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A photographic-plate holder having a light-opening and a chamber, a plate-carrier provided with a plate-holding spring which spans a plate-opening in said carrier, and means for adjusting the carrier within the holder, substantially as described.

2. A photographic-plate holder having a light-opening and a chamber, a plate-carrier provided with a series of transverse grooves, a catch mounted on the holder to engage with either of said grooves and permit the carrier to slide transversely within the holder without disengaging said catch from the carrier; and means for determining the transverse adj ustment of said carrier, substantially as described.

3. A photographic-plate holder comprising a suitable frame, a plate-carrier fitted therein for slidable adjustment in different horizontal and vertical planes, and interchangeable slides to determine the elevation of the plate-carrier with respect to the light-opening of the holder, substantially as described.

i. A photographic-plate holder comprising a suitable frame having a plate-chamber and a light-opening communicating therewith, a guideway within said plate-chamber, a platecarrier slidably fitted in the chamber and arranged to presentaplate opposite to the lightopening of the holder, interchangeable slides interposed between the guideway and one edge of the plate-carrier to support the latter in its horizontal adjustment within the plateholder and to limit the vertical adjustment of said carrier, and means which limit the horizontal adjustment of the carrier and plate in the holder, substantially as described.

5. A photographic-plate holder provided with a light-opening and a plate-carrier chamber, a shutter mechanism contained Within the holder and having the shutter arranged to traverse the light-opening, a plate-carrier fitted in said chamber for adjustment longitudinally and transversely therein, and means for regulating such adjustments of the carrier, whereby the plate-holder may be fitted to an ordinary camera, and the plate-carrier adjusted in said holder for the plate to receive a series of latent impressions which extend longitudinally and transversely on said plate, substantially as described.

(3. A photographic-plate holder provided with a light-opening and a plate-carrier chamber, a slidable plate-carrier fitted in said chamber and having a series of transverse grooves, a latch mounted on the holder and arranged to fit loosely in the grooves of the carrier and permit the latter to be adjusted freely in a transverse direction within said holder, and interchangeable slides to limit or regulate the successive vertical adj ustments of the plate-carrier within the holder, substantially as described.

'7. A photographic-plate holder comprising a frame having a plate-receivin g chamber and a light-opening, a shutter mechanism contained Within the plate-holder and adapted to play across the light-opening therein, a plate-carrier slidablyfitted Within the holder, and means to regulate the horizontal and vertical adjustments of the plate-carrier with respect to the light-opening of the holder, substantially as described.

8. A photographic-plate holder comprising a suitable frame having a light-opening in its front, a plate-carrier provided with a platereceiving opening or slot and fitted in the holder for adjustment in horizontal and vertical planes therein, a plate-retaining spring removably attached to the plate-carrier, and devices which limit the horizontal and vertical adjustment of the plate-carrier within the holder, substantially as described.

0. In a photographic-plate holder, the combination With a frame having a light-opening, ot' a plate-carrier provided with a plate-receiving opening, and a retaining-spring detachably connected to the plate-carrier to span the opening therein, substantially as described.

10. A photographic-plate holder comprising a frame having a light-opening in one side and a door-opening in its other side, a platecarrier slidabl y fitted in said frame and provided with a slot or opening adapted to coincide with the door-opening, and means for determining the horizontal and vertical adjustments of the plate carrier within the holder, substantially as described.

11. A photographic-plate holder comprising a frame having aviewing-opening in one side thereof and a door in its opposite side, a plate-carrier provided with a plate-opening and with a series of spaced grooves or kerfs, a latch mounted on the holder and adapted to engage with the grooves or kerfs successively as the carrier is adjusted in different horizontal and vertical planes, and the interchangeable slides adapted to be fitted against either edge of the plate-carrier, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SPERRY DVVIGIl'l.

Witnesses:

W. H. HELWIG, WM. M. SMITH. 

